Game 71 Hub: Ottawa Senators @ Detroit Red Wings

The Sens' rivalry with the Red Wings has really taken off in the last few years, with the two teams on roughly the same rebuild timeline. There's something extra frustrating about watching a team with which you were supposed to be on level footing finding success when you own team can't quite make it work, and likewise it's extra satisfying to feel like your rebuild is going better than those of your closest competitors.

For the last couple of years, the Red Wings have been the overachievers, but the tables have turned this year. Today, the Sens face a Red Wings team desperately trying to stay in the playoff race, while they themselves sit comfortably in the first wildcard spot.

A win would put Detroit only one point behind Montreal for the second wildcard spot. We cannot let that happen.

This game definitely means more to Detroit than it does to Ottawa, but that doesn't mean the Sens can relax. The 5 point lead they have over the Islanders isn't insurmountable, especially given how many games they have left against teams that are chasing them. Beyond that, it would be nice to know that this team can lose a few games without going on a huge losing streak.

Here are the projected lines for tonight:

How we lined up at practice this morning 💪#GoSensGo | @UpperDeckSports pic.twitter.com/YGfpYAk62l

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 27, 2025

Game Notes:

• The Sens tend to play the Red Wings very well. This season, all three matchups between the two teams have been decided by one goal, with Ottawa winning the most recent one.
• Both of these teams have been pretty streaky this season, and both are in losing mode right now. The Red Wings have gone 3-7-0 in their last 10 games.
• Brady Tkachuk really hates the Wings, and he's only 1 goal away from 30 this season, so I'm expecting big things.
• It looks like Hamonic is a healthy scratch! That's some addition by subtraction.

Stats: